Library employees welcomed the public back to their newly renovated, greatly expanded, and technologically enhanced North Branch Library on Saturday, June 23, 2018. Redesigned by EDA Architects and renovated by R&O Construction, the now 23,500 square feet of public service space was the final project completed as part of the Library’s five-year capital plan. The Library closed April 15, 2017 for a massive makeover.

The greatest changes were made to the previously unfinished first floor that was completely renovated and equipped as a teen center – the largest in the County Library System. The teen center includes café-style study booths, tabletop computers, a large LCD display monitor with directional sound cones, soft seating, and exhibit walls for teen produced art exhibits. The first floor also features special seating and computers for pre-teens, a children’s makerspace, shadow activated projected learning programs, interactive flooring, and ample numbers of computers for toddlers and school age children. The youth services book and non-print collections were tripled in size and special collection of learning toys and games was added and can be borrowed by community members.

New public meeting rooms are now also located on the first floor and feature cinema quality projection, surround sound, and a grand piano. The meeting rooms are enhanced by built-in sinks, refrigerators, and serving counters in order to facilitate group gatherings and meetings. Public meeting spaces are available free to not-for-profit groups, and for a rental fee to others. An outdoor program space with athletic flooring and fixed perimeter benches serves as both a children’s program area and a breakout space for seminars.

The second floor has vastly expanded computer facilities and shelving to accommodate much larger and more diverse adult collections. A “high school” collection has been added and the “young people’s” collection enhanced. The “New Now” popular collections is augmented by a permanent “Mind Benders” exhibit that features recently acquired core collection materials. A “third place gathering space” is served by a large LCD panel, sink, refrigerator, and serving counter. This flexible area can be setup to accommodate a multitude of library-sponsored activities from book discussions to quiet study and from coffee klatches to after school programs.

Dramatic architectural changes designed into the renovation include a large skylight that showers natural light onto a new grand stairway that connects the first and second floors. The stairway is framed on one side by a two-story, glass exhibit case that reflects images of the natural world into the lower level. This display case is easily the most impressive of any exhibit space in the County Library System.

During the renovation, the building was completely gutted and the electrical, mechanical, and plumbing infrastructure were replaced, bringing the building up to current codes. New double pane windows and LED lighting systems facilitate keeping operational costs down, making more funding available for public services. The infrastructure required for a small café was included in the renovation. Cafés in County Libraries provide an opportunity to partner with the private sector, providing a sales tax stream for cities and ongoing rental income to the Library that is used to enhance book collections and other public services. Available parking was expanded by adding additional space in the north lot, building a new south lot, and working with North Ogden City to share access to parking that will be constructed on the east side of the Senior Center.

The North Branch Library originally opened January 14, 1983 on a site donated by the City of North Ogden and was constructed at a cost of $700,000. The collection came primarily from the Emerson Stone Branch Library, which was closed on January 1, 1982. The facility was originally furnished with community donations provided through the Weber County Library Development Fund. During 1983, the North Branch service area was recognized by the Utah Library Association with its Special Services to Libraries Award.

During 1998, the main floor of the North Branch was completely renovated. The following year, the landscaping and parking area were significantly upgraded to accommodate the widening of 2600 North Street. Two Community Development Block Grants were used to upgrade access to the building, the first in 1986, to automate the entrance doors and the second in 2000, to remodel the checkout desk and make way for automated checkout units.

Originally constructed on two floors, the Branch was built for future expansion. It took 35 years and a vote of the people to finally complete the lower level and gainfully put to use the entire facility.